Gear-finishing machine



Jul 30, 1929.

1 0 1 0 IIVVENTORI 58 WMZJQ Jam/nu,

\Jw I 4 ATTORNEY H. D. TANNER 1,722,544 GEAR FINISHING MACHINE FiledMarch 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 30, 1929. H. D. TANNER 1,722,544

GEAR FINISHING mcunw Filed March 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEV:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\i VII/l4 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOH WLlJa/rvnm VM '1I ATTOBNE July 30, 1929. H. D. TANNER GEAR FINISHING MACHINE Filed March26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mveuron A TTORNEY the tools carried PatentedJuly 30, 1929.

UNITED STA OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO PRATT & WEITNEY HUBERTn. TANNER,

COMPANY, ,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY.

emnrrmrsnme MACHINE.

Application filed March 26, .1927. Serial No. 178,598.

This invention relates to gear finishing machlnes and in particular to amachme for finlshmg the curved surfaces of teeth of spur or helicalgears been suitably roughed out.

after they have An object of the present invention is to provide amachine for fimshmg gears having oppositely disposed oscillating frames,each carrying a straight edged tool adapted to be actuated over a gearof the spur or the tooth curves of helical type in the direction of therolling movement ofthe gear.

Another object of the invention is to provide actuating means for byeach effect a straight line ting tool relative to its eillatory A stillfurtherof the oscillating frames movement of the cutframe during the osmovement of the frame;

object of the tool 'carried which will the invention is to provide anadjustable cam for effecting the straight line movement of each of thecutters during to provide meanstion of the cam for each tion .of themachine in a feeding movements of the the oscillation of its rame.

A still further object of the invention s for advancing the positoolduring operadirection to effect tool during successive rotations of thegear blank.

A still further object of the invention is to provide actuating meanssimultaneously for theframes to oscillate the frames so that therebywill be moved simultaneously over the tooth curves of the gear beingfinished.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in thefeatures of construction and operation set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings. In the accompanying illustratedin the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification,I have in a gear finishing machine,

shown my invention embodied but it will be understood that the inventioncan be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construedas defining or limiting the scope of the invention,

the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for thatpurpose. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a complete machine made according tothe present invention, parts being shown in section to more clearly showtheir construction.

a Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, ofa -complete machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially uponline 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the arrangement of the oscillating framesand parts associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a plan view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1 and showing theoscillating frames in their upper and outer positions.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a part of the machine showing thespindleindexing mechamsm.

Fig. 5 nism.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the indexing mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to -Fig. 5 showing another part of the spindleindexing mechanism. 1]

' Fig. .8 is a sectional View taken on line 88 of 'Fig. 1 showing a.part of the cam. advancing mechanism for effecting feeding movements ofthe tools.

' Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the starting and stoppingmechanism for the machine.

Fig. 10 is a plan of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is an end view of the actuating means for advancmg the toolcontrolling is detail of the indexing mechaview taken .on line cams.

which is now deemed preferable, but it' is to be understood that changesand modifica- I tions ma be made within the scope of the appende claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its broadest aspect, my invention comprises thefollowing principal parts: First, a base; porting spindle mounted forrotation preferably upon a horizontal axis; third, a pair of oppositelydisposed frames adapted to second, a work suposcillate about the axis ofthe work supporting spindle; fourth, tool sup orts adjustably mounted onthe frames or movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the workspindle; fifth, a tool head on each of the supports movable in astraight line normal to the direction of adjustmentof its 4 support;sixth, cams mounted above the frames and adapted to actuate the toolheads v being cut; eighth, means to slightly advance relative to thespindle 11. slidable within the base and is the cam after each completerotative movement of the work spindle; ninth, means to oscillate saidframes, and tenth,l.means to index said work spindle bet-weenoscillatory movements ofv said frames to engage successive teeth of thegear with the tools.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawings, I provide abase 10 having mounted therein a spindle 11 upon which workW ma bemounted at its innerend. Means to indbx this spindle 11 to successiveangular positions is provided, preferably mounted as shown upon theouter end of the work spindle 11. This indexing mechanism for thespindle 11 shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 9 comprises a notched plate 12 riidly secured tot-he outer end of the work spindle 11 by the connectionsshown in Fig. so that this plate 12 may be slightly adjusted A. plunger13 is adapted to engage within the notches of the plate 12 to rigidlysecure the spindle 11 in each in- (lexed position. In .order to effectindexing movements of the spindle 11, which occur between successiveoscillatory movements of frames 14 presently to be described, a tootheddisk adjacent an forming part of the disk 12 is mounted on the outer endof the work spindle'l'l and isadapted to be' engaged by a pawl ,15carried upon an oscillating arm 20. Cams 16 and 17, preferably mountedon a constantly rotating shaft 18 in the base of the machine, areprovided for oscillating the pawl and its arm 20 predetermined distancesand for locking the plunger 13 in timed relation to each other. A thirdcam 21 controls the movement of the pawl carrying lever 22;

It will be understood that any desired form of spindle indexingmechanism may be provided of conventional or usual form; the 'one shownbeing adapted" to provide simple means to rotate and lock the spindle 11by cams 16 and-17. By providing a notched disk 12 having notchescorresponding to the number of teeth. in the gear WV being finished andadjusting the position of a reach arm 19 onthe lever 20 carrying thepawl 15, the indexing mechanism can be adjusted for a gear having'anynumber of teeth. I

As shown in Fig. 1, the cams 16, 17 and 21 are mounted on the shaft 18which forms the main driving shaft of the machine.

. 23- thereon which may This shaft 18 is driven from a worm gear bedriven from a worm 24 on a shaft 25*d'riven from a suitmay be a yoke2&engag1ng a groove in its movable member adapted to be actuated from ahand level-'30. Means to. disengage the clutch 27 at the end of thecycle of operations of the machine will presently be described.

Mounted for oscillatory movement on the machine are the two U-shapedframes 14,

their axes ofoscillation coinciding with the I axis of the Worksupporting spindle 11. In order to oscillate these frames 14, connectingrods 32- are secured to the frames preferably in a manner to permitadjustment toward and from the axis of oscillation so that theoscillatory movement of the frames 14 may be widely varied. Thisconnection between the frames 14 and the rods 32 is clearly shown inFig. 2 and comprises a screw rotatably mounted in the frame 14. A nut 34engaging this screw 33 forms the upper end of the rod 32. By rotatingthe screw 33 and traversing the nut 34 toward and from the axis ofoscillation of the frame 14, the oscillatory movement may be widelyvaried. The rods 32 are also, made adjustable in length by being formedin two-parts joined by means of a turn buckle 36. These connecting rods32 at their lower ends are provided with rollers which contact with cams35 mounted on the slowly rotating drive shaft 18. Within the base 10.As-shown in Figs. land 2, these cams 35 are so disposed upon theshaft'18 that oscillatory movement of the frames 14 occurs in reversedirection exactlysimultaneously so that tools mounted on these frames 14will simultaneously perforni'their cutting operation upon oppositesurfaces of different gear teeth.

Mounted on planed surfaces on the frames 14 in a manner to permitadjustment in directions parallel to the axis of oscillation of theframes are tool supports 40, one being provided on eachfram Thesesupports 40, as shown in Fig. *3, may be provided with a tongue 41engaging a groove formed in the frame 14, bolts 42 being providedextending through elongated slots-in the supports for adjustablysecuring them in proper position for operation upon any form of gearblank. Mounted on these tool supports 40"are tool heads 45 slidablymovable in a straight line in a direction normal to the direction ofadjustment of the supports 40' and obliquely toward and from the axissecuring means (not shown) these two parts 45 and 47 may be clampedrigidly in position.

In order to actuate these tool heads 45 in a straight line toward andfrom the axis of oscillation of the frames 14 during oscillatorymovements of the frames 14, rollers I 48 are mounted upon the members 47of 50 having a tool 51 with a straight cutting edge in the presentinstance extending par-- allel to the axis of the work support and axisof oscillation of the frame. 14. This tool 51 may be clamped, as shown,to the tool block by any desired. means.-

In order to effect feeding movements of the tool 51 relative to the gearblank W being finished, the cams 49 are mounted upon are rotated throughthree complete revoluprovided a transverse arm 55 by means of eccentricjournals 56 so that the cams 49 maybe very slightly advanced by movementof the arm 55 toward the work spindle 11. In order to effectthis'feeding movement of the cams 49 the eccentric journals or spindles56 are with levers 57 suitably connected together by a reach arm 58sothat they will operate together. One of the levers 57 is provided witha reach rod 59 extending to a cam plate 60 mounted on a slowly rotatingshaft 61 within the base 10- of the machine. After each completerotation of the work spindle 11, the reachrod 59 is forced upwardly aslight amount by engagement of its roller 62 with the cam 60,thusoscillating the levers 57 and the eccentric portions of the spindles56 to slightly lower the arm 55 on which the cams 49 are mounted."

As shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 61 is rotated from the shaft 18 by a wormgear 65 engaging a worm on shaft 18. The worm gear 65 is on a shaft 66adapted to drive the shaft 61 through spur gears 67 disposed on the endsof these shafts so that they may read ly be changed. By choosing theproper ratio of gears 67 the shaft 61 and its cam 60 may be made torotate exactly once during a complete cycle of operations of themachine.

A cam 60 is shown in its outline in Fig. 11 by which it will be seenthat the reach rod 59 is raised slightly at three different times duringthe cycle of operation of the machine. This is to effect three separatefeed ing movements of the tools 51 preferably while the work spindle 11and the work W tions.

71 to expand and to oscillate in a direction to open the clutch ly isprovided with a pair of oppositely dis- I osed frames, simultaneouslyforces the rames from the position shown in Fig. 3 in full lines toupper position as shown in dotted lines. The effect of this movement,therefore, is to move the tool'inthe arc of a circle. Simultaneouslywith this movement, however, roller on the tool head is such that aslight movement toward the axis of the work supthe, action of the camupon the port. is effected. The result of this combined I movementof thetool is an involute or other curve on thetooth of the gear blank beingfinished. The precise curve upon which the tool is actuated depends uponthe particular contour of the cam engaging the roller.

varying the contour of the cams, various tooth curves may be formed onthe gear blank differing from or coinciding exactly.

which oscillates the clutch yoke 28'through a spring 71 bearing againstan'arm 72 pinned to the shaft carrying the yoke 28. In the operative or,closed position a detent 73 engages a notch in the arm the clutch fromopening. A cam 74 on shaft 61 has a projection which, as soon asoperation is completed, withdraws the detent 73 72 thus preventing Itwill be seen, therefore, that by suitably from the arm 72 thusallowing-the spring force the clutch yoke 28 27. The machine thereforecomes to' rest and may be again started by means of the lever 30.

What-I claim is: p

1. A gear finishing machine comprising in combination, a base, anoscillatory frame adapted to oscillate abouta fixed axis, means tooscillate said frame between fixed points, a work spindle mounted forrotation on a fixed axis on said base, means to index said' spindlebetween oscillatory movements of said frame, a tool head slidable onsaid frame, a cam secured to the base, means on said tool head engagingsa d cam whereby said tool head is moved along the frame duringoscillatory movement of said frame, and means to adjust said cam to varythe path of movement of said tool head.

2. A gear finishing machine comprising in combination, a base,oppositely disposed oscillatory frames adapted to oscillate about acommon fixed axis, means to oscillatesaid frames between fixed points, awork spindle mounted for rotation on said base, means to In operationthe machine, which normal-- index said spindle betweenoscillatorymovements of said frames, a tool head slidable on each ofsaid frames, cams secured to the base, and means on said tool headsrespectively engaging said cams whereby said tool oscillate about afixed heads are moved along the frames during oscillatory movements ofsaid frames.

3. A gear finishing machine comprising in combination, a base,'oppositely disposed oscillatory frames adapted to oscillate about a commonfixed axis, means to simultaneously oscillate said framesbetween fixedpoints, a work spindle mounted forrotation on said base upon the sameaxis as said frames, means to index said spindlebetween oscillatorymovements of said frames, a tool head slidable on each of said frames ina direction toward and from the axis ofsaid spindle, cams secured to thebase, and means -;on said tool heads engaging said cams whereby saidtool heads are simultaneously moved during oscillatory movement of saidframes.

4. A geanfinish-ingmachine comprising in combination, a base, oppositelydisposed oscillatory frames adapted to oscillate about a common fixedaxis, means to simultaneously oscillate said frames in oppositedirections between fixed points, a work spindle mounted for rotation onsaid base upon the same axisas said frames, means.

in combination, a base, oppositely disposed] oscillatory frames adaptedto oscillate aboutacommon fixed axis, means-to oscillate said framesbetween fixed points, a

work spindle mounted for rotation on said base, means to index saidspindle between oscillatory movements of said frames, a tool head,slidable on each of said frames, a cam secured to the base, means onsaid tool heads engaging said cam whereby said tool heads are moved in astraight line during oscillatory movement of said frames, and means toadvance said cam to effect feeding movements of said tool heads.

7. A gear finishing machine comprising in combination, a base,oppositely disposed oscillatory frames adapted to oscillate about acommon fixed axis, means to oscillatesaid frames between fixed points, awork spindle mounted for rotation on said base upon the same axis assaid frames, means to index said spindle between oscillatory movementsof said frames, a tool head slidable on each ofsaid frames in adirection toward and from the axis of said spindle, cams secured to thebase, means on said tool heads engaging said cams whereby said toolheads are moved during oscillatory movement of said frames, and means toadvance said cams to effect feeding movements of said tool heads.

In testimony whereof, I hereto afiix my signature. HUB'ERT D. TANNER.

